(Tuscaloosa, Ala.) The Tuscaloosa City Schools will host the inaugural “Tuscaloosa Can!” project and service learning event the week of February 26, 2018. In a continued response to the persistent concern of food insecurity in the lives of citizens in West Alabama, this year’s expanded event features over 20 school teams creating large sculptures made from canned food items. After the structures are built, the creations remain on display to the public as a giant art exhibition. At the end of the viewing, all food is donated to the West Alabama Food Bank.

In an effort to expand awareness of food insecurity in the West Alabama community and increase the volume of food donated from this project, this year’s structures will be on display the week of Feb. 26-March 2 at downtown Tuscaloosa venues including the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, Paul R. Jones Gallery, Harrison Galleries and UPerk. Awards will be presented to school teams at the First Friday event held on March 2 at 5:45 p.m. at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. The public is encouraged to attend and complete the First Friday Art Walk to view all of the structures.

Over the past four years, Tuscaloosa City students and schools have raised nearly 30,000 pounds of food for the West Alabama Food Bank through similar projects. As part of our growing partnerships with The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa and the West Alabama Food Bank, we invite other public or private schools and higher education institutions to join our cause as this event grows toward 2019.

The event fits with the vision of 21st century curriculum goals by providing students opportunities for service-based, collaborative, hands-on learning targeting real world problems – in this case, regional hunger. Students integrate the skills of math and geometry, art and design, physics and engineering, as well as 3D rendering in creating their structures.

The Tuscaloosa City Schools provide high-quality instruction to more than 10,000 pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade students throughout metropolitan Tuscaloosa, Ala. More than 1,300 dedicated employees serve the community by challenging students to a curriculum to exceed the expectations of every student in the 23 campuses from the first day of school to their graduation day. For more information visit www.tuscaloosacityschools.com.

The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is located at 620 Greensboro Avenue in Downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about the CAC, The Arts Council or Bama Theatre, patrons should LIKE the Facebook page “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” and follow tuscarts on Twitter. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

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